Referred to a different job - am I dead?

Had a first round phone interview today. Was scheduled to be with two guys from the team and one lady from HR. She tells me something came up, they couldn't be on the call. Does the HR portion of the interview (really generic fit questions) and talks to me about a similar and probably about as good job, but not exactly the one I applied for. I said it sounded interesting and was generally enthusiastic about it. Is this bad? Does it make me sound not focused? What should I have done?

Original job was Equity research associate, she talks to me about Research Analyst and describes it as more broad based research about big picture industry stuff. Not clear if that is above or below equity research in pay/prestige/difficulty of getting in.

I'm pretty much dead right?

In follow up "thank you" email do I mention this at all / what should I say? Is it possible to be genuinely in the running for two jobs at once? Have I already committed to changing my application to be for the second job? Is it really possible something came up and neither could be on the call to do their portion of the interview? There was an online test prior to this, could I have "failed" it (it was free answer)?

Thanks

3 Comments
 

CTFD

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 
Best Response

Honestly they could have possibly filled the position for the role you wanted already and didn't want to tell you. Or they could have decided that you perhaps are better for this analyst role (maybe your experience is more analyst than associate, but I don't know that or how it works at that firm). What I do know is that you seem too worked up about it and I don't think you need to be.

I would do some research on people with this new job title, look at their LinkedIn, compare them to some of the people who work in the other role you initially applied for. Maybe that could give you some perspective on the different roles. Other than that, I would just say to them that you remain interested for the role in which you initially applied, and it would be your first choice, but say that the other role does sound like something you may be interested in as well if for some reason the opening for equity research has been filled? Either way, don't sweat it.

 

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